Man found dead on Whittier Avenue identified

Monday

Feb 3, 2014 at 2:37 PMFeb 3, 2014 at 2:58 PM

The Sangamon County Coroner's Office identified a man found dead Friday in the yard of a home in the 2700 block of South Whittier Avenue as Justin M. Sharp, 25, of Springfield. He died from a single gunshot wound consistent with a homicide.

Jason Nevel Staff Writer @jasonnevelSJR

The Sangamon County Coroner's Office identified a man found dead Friday in the yard of a home in the 2700 block of South Whittier Avenue as Justin M. Sharp, 25, of Springfield.

Coroner Cinda Edwards said Sharp died from a single gunshot wound consistent with a homicide.

No one has been arrested in connection with Sharp's death.

Sangamon County sheriff's deputies executed a search warrant Friday evening at Sharp's home in the 500 block of West Highland Avenue, near where his body was found. Several items were seized during the search and will be further analyzed, the sheriff's office said.

Undersheriff Jack Campbell said Monday that detectives are still trying to piece together what happened in the days leading up to the homicide.

A passer-by noticed Sharp's body lying in a yard at 7:20 a.m. Friday along the side of a home at the corner of Whittier and Highland avenues, just outside of Springfield city limits.

The yard is a few blocks from the Springfield School District's Blackhawk Elementary School, 2500 S. College St., and Early Learning Center, 2501 S. First St.

It appeared that pit bulls were being bred at Sharp's home, but authorities could not say what, if any, connection that may have had to his death.

Three dogs from the house were taken to Sangamon County Animal Control.

Sharp was arrested in August and was facing felony drug charges. He was out of jail after posting a $2,000 bail. A jury trial on those charges was scheduled for March 17, according to court records.

Police in August showed up with a search warrant at a home where Sharp was and found him allegedly trying to destroy evidence, according to State Journal-Register archives.

Inside the house, authorities reportedly found 145 grams of marijuana in the toilet, about 150 grams of marijuana in the shower drain, and more than 700 grams of marijuana in other areas of the house. Officers also reportedly found 21 marijuana plants and three digital scales.

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